OFF-COURSE BETTING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 60, 4 March 1949, Page 4

OFF-COURSE BETTING

Sir, —Your sportsman-contribu-tor’s article on ‘off-course’ betting alarmingly reveals the simplicity and gullibility of the average New Zealander as a voter. Question the man-in-the-street as to whom he will be betting with should ‘The Proposal’ be sanctioned at the polls and he will say, “I will be betting with the Government.” Saith the wise guy, “NO, its with the Racing and Trotting Conferences” and they will both be vastly mistaken. If the proposal is passed the Racing and Trotting Conferences could set up a PRIVATE company to handle all off-course betting in New Zealand. The wisest guy of all exclaims, “Oh, will I put my money in that company!”, yes, and a pig’s right eye he will. By their recent actions in the world of sport and the industrial stock markets, you don’t have to be a prophet to pick the members of that approximately £24 million company (see proposal adverts). I am just a small punter, but I cannot understand the bookies’ spinlessness in not defending themselves. Sure, by law they are criminals; but so is every single person who has ever betted with them. ' And I would like to bet them even money that if the ‘Proposal’ is passed—and they, every one of them, close down and refuse to take a bet, they will be legalised before the Election! Yours etc., BANDITS WE KNOW.